Miriam Van Waters Papers. Male Prisoner Correspondence, 1927-1971. Correspondence: T, 1966-1971. A-71, folder 607. Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.

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when I was very young I could've asked some of the people who lived through those early years. but when youre young you don't suppose to ask grown ups a lot of personal questions for some reason. I read in the paper today about a 14 year old girl being committed to an institution for being stubborn and refusing to obey her parents. her laywer lawyer said that law been on the books since 1699 and before that (stubborn child law) it was a whipping penalty and before that was changed it was death to talkback or disobey. the law was uncivilized very cruel back then - give my regards to Mrs Willis - so long for now. take care -

yours truly. Charles E Tracy

saturday July 2-1971

Dear Miriam. I received your nice letter wednesday morning and enjoyed hearing from you very much as always. I imagine your good friends will be coming by to visit you over the fourth of July. When I was in boston about nine years ago I used to stay off the highway on holidays. there are so many reckless drivers going and coming. and the people in this state act like they don't know how to drive at all. Miriam it's nice of you to get the history book for me and I appreciate you giving it to me to keep. we don't have a very big selection of books in the small library here in Walpole not the kind that I like. they have a lot of -

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adventure stories and fiction and a few other kind. but nothing that I could learn from. about the family of racoon that you have in your back yard. I understand they make nice pets. when I was in Virginia people used to hunt them up in the mountains some said they tasted better than chicken but I have never eaten any. did I tell you in the last letter that 39 Capital Convictions were overturned last monday by the us supreme court. Peter Ladetts in block 9 had his death sentence overturned. he have to go to court soon to be re sentenced to life. its much better than being in nine. so long for now Miriam. best wishes to you over the Holiday. Charles E. Tracy.

wednesday. July 7-1971

Dear Miriam. I received your nice letter saturday and I enjoyed hearing from you. hope you're enjoying the nice warm weather even though it is a little too hot and sticky at times. I'll be looking for the book that you are sending. I imagine it will be here in a day or so thank you very much I appreciate you telling me about the year stay that Governor sargeant asked for I read it in the paper a day after I received your letter it was in last thursdays Globe and we usually get the paper after everyone else has read it I think we will be going out in the general population with the other inmates pretty soon I guess that means a week to a month from now -

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we had roast beef with candied yams and water melon for dinner on fourth of July. that wasn't special because we usually have that once a week anyway. but it was nice.

we used to have sword fish once in a while but they're not allowed to see it any more because of the mercury contamination. now they're sending that fish to other parts of the world where they are not so strict which doesn't make too much sense. Please give my regards to Mrs Willis I know she's busy with her family and don't have much time to write it's always busy this time of year.

Very warmly. Charles E Tracy